SAFETY
TALKS
SA
FE
TY
TA
LK
S
SAFETY TALKS
Infrastructure Health & Safety Association
5110 Creekbank Road, Suite 400
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 0A1 Canada
1-800-263-5024 www.ihsa.ca
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
IHSA has additional information on these and other topics.
Visit www.ihsa.ca or call Customer Service at
1-800-263-5024
© Infrastructure Health & Safety Association, 2007
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, or stored in any material form, without the express written permission of the copyright owner.
Revised May 2008 Second printing, May 2011 ISBN-13: 978-0-919465-88-6
The contents contained in this publication are for general information only. This publication should not be regarded or relied upon as a definitive guide to government regulations or to safety practices and procedures. The contents of this publication were, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of printing. However, no representations of any kind are made with regard to the accuracy, completeness, or sufficiency of the contents. The appropriate regulations and statutes should be consulted. Readers should not act on the information contained herein without seeking specific independent legal advice on their specific
circumstance. The Infrastructure Health & Safety Association is pleased to answer individual requests for counselling and advice.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Table of
Contents
4
Pa
ge
4 How to use Safety Talks
Responsibilities and rights
5 Responsibilities 6 Workers’ rights
Personal protective equipment
7 Eye protection 8 Hearing protection 9 Respirators—Types 10 Respirators—Fit 11 Respirators—maintenance 12 Hand protection
Working at heights
13 Guardrails14 Fall protection—Basic types 15 Fall protection—Approvals and
inspection
16 Fall protection—Rope grabs 17 Step ladders
18 Extension ladders 19 3-point contact—Ladders 20 3-point contact—Vehicles and
equipment
21 Scaffolds—Planks and decks 22 Scaffolds—Structural components 23 Suspended access equipment—
Fall protection
24 Suspended access equipment— Tiebacks
25 Suspended access equipment— Calculating counterweights
Rigging and hoisting
26 Rigging hardware 27 Wire rope—Inspection 28 Wire Rope—Cable clips 29 Hoisting signals—Basic rules 30 Hoisting signals—Demonstration
Electricity
31 Electrical safety 32 Lockout and tagging 33 Powerline contact 34 Temporary lighting 35 Underground utilities
Vehicles
36 Backing vehicles
37 Traffic control—Public roads 1 38 Traffic control—Public roads 2 39 Dump truck tipovers—Drivers 40 Dump trucks—Workers in vicinity
Trenching
41 Excavator handsignals 42 Trenching—Soil types 43 Trenching—Protection 44 Trenching—InspectionConfined spaces
45 Confined spaces—Definition 46 Confined spaces—Dangerous atmospheres 47 Confined spaces—Physical hazardsTechniques and tools
48 Housekeeping
49 Hand tools—Pliers and wrenches 50 Hand tools—Screwdrivers 51 Electric tools—Basic safety 52 Electric tools—Drills 53 Electric tools—Sabre saws 54 Electric tools—Circular Saws 55 Nail Guns
56 Floor finishing 57 Fire extinguishers 58 Heaters
59 Compressed gas cylinders 60 Propane
Health
61 Carbon monoxide 62 Solvents 63 Silica 64 Lead 65 HEPA filters 66 Cement 67 Concrete 68 Moulds 69 Sewage 70 West Nile Virus 71 Vibration White Finger 72 Sun protection 73 Heat stress 74 Cold stressErgonomics
75 Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)—Risk Factors 76 Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)—Controls 77 Back care—Basic lifting 78 Back care—Lifting sheetmaterials 1
79 Back care—Lifting sheet materials 2
80 Stretching exercises
81 Whole-body vibration (WBV) 82 MSDs—Welding
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
How to use
Safety Talks
5
What makes a Safety Talk work?
• Choose a talk suited to site and work conditions. Don’t give a talk on quick-cut saws when none are being used on the job.
• Deliver the talk where it will be most
appropriate. That could be the job office, out on the site, or near the tools and equipment you are talking about.
• Introduce the subject clearly. Let workers know exactly what you are going to talk about and why it’s important to them.
• Refer to the safety talk for information. But wherever possible use your own words. • Connect key points to things your crew is
familiar with on the project.
• Pinpoint hazards. Talk about what may happen. Use information from the safety talk to explain how to control or prevent these hazards. • Wherever possible, use real tools, equipment,
material, and jobsite situations to demonstrate key points.
• Ask for questions. Answer to the best of your knowledge. Get more information where necessary.
• Ask workers to demonstrate what they have learned.
• Keep a record of each talk delivered. Include date, topic, and names of attendees. Photocopy the Report Form at the back of this manual and use it to keep a record of each session.
Wh
at
?
Wh
y?
Ho
w?
What is a Safety Talk?
A safety talk is a hands-on way to remind workers that health and safety are important on the job. Safety talks deal with specific problems on site. They do not replace formal training.
Through safety talks you can tell workers about health and safety requirements for the tools, equipment, materials, and procedures they use every day or for particular jobs.
Each safety talk in this book will take about five minutes to present.
Why give a Safety Talk?
Your objective is to help workers RECOGNIZE and CONTROL hazards on the project.
You may be a supervisor, a health and safety representative, the member of a joint health and safety committee, a safety officer, or someone with similar duties.
You give safety talks because you are responsible for advising workers about any existing or possible danger to their health and safety.
Safety talks demonstrate the commitment of employers and workers to health and safety.
Remember
The information you present in a Safety Talk may be the only information workers receive about a particular tool, piece of equipment, type of material, or work procedure on the project.
In choosing and presenting your talk, do everything you can to help workers remember and act on the message you deliver.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Responsibilities
6
Construction can be dangerous business if people don’t fulfill their responsibilities for onsite health and safety.
Learning your responsibilities is the first step. You should also be aware of other people’s
responsibilities so you know who to talk to if you see a hazard.
• Provide competent supervision. • Acquaint workers with hazards.
• Take every precaution reasonable to protect workers.
• Ensure that all workers are at least 16 years old.
SUPERVISOR (See Section 27 of the Act)
• Ensure that the health and safety of workers are never in danger.
• Ensure that workers work safely, according to the law.
• Ensure that workers use and wear any protective equipment or clothing required by the law or the employer.
• Advise workers of any possible danger to their health and safety on the job.
WORKER (See Section 28 of the Act)
• Work safely at all times.
• Wear any protective equipment or clothing that your employer requires you to wear.
• Never remove a safety guard or any protective equipment.
• Report to your employer or supervisor any protective device that is missing or not working properly.
• Report to your employer or supervisor any hazard in the workplace.
• Report any violations of the law.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
Health and safety hazards can be controlled if everyone knows his or her own responsibilities and acts on them.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Construction Regulation (Ontario Regulation 213/91) define the responsibilities of workplace parties such as constructor, employer, supervisor, and worker. You can get a copy of the Act and regulations from IHSA, or online at www.ihsa.ca. Here are some examples of responsibilities of workplace parties.
CONSTRUCTOR (See Section 23 of the Act)
• Ensure that everyone and all work processes comply with the law. This includes all employers (subcontractors) and their workers.
• Ensure that all workers’ health and safety are protected.
• Provide notification of project to the Ministry of Labour.
EMPLOYER (See Section 25 of the Act)
• Provide equipment, materials, and protective devices, and maintain them.
• Ensure that everyone and all processes comply with the requirements of the law.
• Provide information and instruction to protect workers’ health and safety.
Hold up the “green book” (Occupational Health and
Safety Act and Regulations for Construction Projects)
and ask your crew what they know about it. Ask your crew to name
• two responsibilities of employers • two responsibilities of supervisors.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Workers’
rights
7
Employers have the right to determine and control the work, so long as everything is legal. Workers, however, have the power to protect their health and safety.
the beginning of testing, to participate in Ministry of Labour inspections and investigations, to investigate serious accidents, and to inspect the jobsite regularly.
JHSCs have the right to make recommendations to employers about health and safety improvements. Employers must reply in writing within 21 days. Certified worker members have the right to investigate complaints dealing with dangerous circumstances.
Who are the members of the joint health and safety committee on this project?
RIGHT TO REFUSE
Workers have the right to refuse work if they believe it endangers their health and safety. The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out specific procedures. It’s a two-stage process. You can refuse based on your subjective belief that the work is dangerous. You must inform the supervisor or employer.
Once a supervisor has investigated, you may still have reasonable grounds for believing that the work is dangerous. In this case, you may continue to refuse work. A Ministry of Labour inspector must be called to investigate.
Identify controls
Ontario law spells out the three rights that give workers this power: the right to know, the right to participate, and the right to refuse.
RIGHT TO KNOW
Workers have the right to know about workplace health and safety hazards.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act says that employers must provide a wide range of
information about workplace hazards to workers and joint health and safety committees. Joint committees have a duty to communicate with workers.
WHMIS, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, is one example of the right to know. WHMIS is a Canada-wide system designed to protect workers by providing information about hazardous materials on the job. WHMIS has three main parts:
• labels
• material safety data sheets (MSDSs) • worker education and training.
RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE
Workers have the right to make recommendations about health and safety.
Employers must recognize this right to participate. They must consult with joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) about methods of testing equipment, substances, or other workplace factors, and about health and safety training programs. A worker on the JHSC has the right to be present at
Demonstrate
Ask your crew: What rights do construction workers have on the job?
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Eye Protection
8
Basic protection is safety glasses with sideshields. Look for the CSA logo on the frames, whether the glasses are prescription or non-prescription. For welding, eye protection must also be marked with the shade number.
• Don’t wear contact lenses on site. Dust and other particles can get under the lens. If you must wear contact lenses for medical reasons, wear appropriate eye protection as well.
• Keep your safety glasses on when you wear other protection such as a welding helmet or
faceshield. Why? Because when you lift up the visor or shield you may still be exposed to flying chips, dust, or other hazards.
• Eye protection must be matched to the hazard. Goggles that protect you from dust may not protect you from splash or radiation.
• Eyewear should fit snugly.
• Clean dirty lenses with water or a lens-cleaning solution to float the dirt away instead of scratching it into the lenses.
• Get your eyes checked every couple of years to make sure that problems haven’t developed or gotten worse.
Take a look at eye protection used by your crew. Point out any cracked or broken frames and scratched or pitted lenses that should be replaced. Review the company policy on providing and replacing eyewear.
Review any special requirements for welding helmets, sandblasting hoods, faceshields, etc.
Identify controls
Demonstrate
Explain dangers
In construction we do too many jobs without protecting our eyes.
Just think of the eye hazards in our work: • flying dust and grit
• welding arcs
• sparks and slag from welding and cutting • abrasives from sandblasting
• chemical splash
• pipe and wire sticking out of walls • ties and wire hanging from ceilings • sun and wind.
We’ve all had dust and dirt in our eyes. Some of us have been hit in the eye by chips of wood,
concrete, and stone.
A little bigger, a little faster—these particles could leave us with limited sight or none at all.
List eye hazards on site
You’ve only got one pair of eyes. Make them last a lifetime.
Wearing the right protection can prevent most eye injuries.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Hearing
Protection
9
In the same way, the noise level drops 3 decibels when you double your distance away from it. Without hearing protection, your safe working limit for an 8-hour day with no other noise exposure is 85 decibels. This is the loudness of a room full of people.
When noise cannot be reduced or controlled, we need to wear hearing protection.
Identify tasks on site that require hearing protection.
Review company policy and procedures regarding hearing protection.
Show two types of hearing protectors: • ear plugs
• ear muffs
Show how to insert ear plugs:
Reach one hand around back of head, pull ear upwards to straighten S-shaped ear canal, then insert plug with other hand according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Many construction trades are overexposed to noise. In time, overexposure can damage your hearing. Hearing loss prevents you from hearing other hazards on the job. It also causes problems in your personal life.
• It interferes with how you hear normal speech. • It prevents you from socializing.
• It can cause high blood pressure. • It is permanent.
Hearing loss is preventable. The best prevention is hearing protection.
Noise is any unwanted sound. There are two types—continuous noise (air-conditioner) and impulse noise (gunshot).
Noise is measured in decibels (dB). For example, a quick-cut saw produces 115 decibels; a
jackhammer, 110 decibels; a drill, 100 decibels. Noise power doubles every time noise increases 3 decibels.
Think about that. When the noise level is 80 decibels and it goes up to 83, the noise is twice as loud.
Demonstrate
Explain dangers
Identify controls
List noise hazards on site
Figure 5
Proper Technique for Inserting Earplugs
List respiratory hazards on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Respirators
10
Types
Demonstrate
KConstruction can involve airborne hazards—for instance, mist from spray-painting, fumes from welding, vapours from adhesives, and dust from concrete cutting.
KAirborne hazards can have short-term effects such as sneezing or long-term effects such as lung disease.
Respirators are the last line of defence against airborne hazards.
When we can’t isolate the hazard or use a different product, we have to wear a respirator.
There is no all-purpose respirator that can be used in every situation.
Respirators must be matched to particular hazards. There are two basic types of respirator:
air-purifying and supplied-air.
Air-purifying respirators
• filter contaminants like dust and fibres out of the air
• do NOT supply air or oxygen
• must be matched to specific hazards such as solvent vapours or mist from sprayed form oil • are specified in material safety data sheets
(MSDSs) for controlled products used in construction
• have a limited lifespan based on contaminant levels and filter load (do NOT rely on the stated “expiry date”).
Supplied-air respirators
• supply the wearer with breathable air from a compressor, cylinder, or tank
• offer the BEST protection against many hazards • have limitations (for instance, air tanks are bulky
and air lines can get tangled)
• are the only respirators that can be used for confined space rescue or in dangerous atmospheres.
• Show CSA and NIOSH labels and stress that only CSA and NIOSH approved respirators appropriate for the hazard should be used.
• Show examples of air-purifying and supplied-air respirators.
• Show how to replace filters.
• On MSDS, show where information on respirators can be found.
• Review company rules and procedures on respirators.
• Stress that respirators only work when they are selected, maintained, and used properly.
Explain dangers
List breathing hazards on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Respirators
11
Fit
Demonstrate as you talk
With respirators, one size doesn’t fit all.
Even with three different sizes of facepieces, for instance, no size from one manufacturer may fit you. A different brand may be necessary.
If a respirator doesn’t fit right, it can’t protect you. Even when a respirator fits properly, it may get nudged or bumped out of position while you’re working, causing leaks that can be dangerous. Respirators can also leak if you’re not clean-shaven. Respirators and cartridges must be appropriate for the hazardous substances in the air. Particulate respirators, for example, don't work for acids, solvents, ammonia, or other gaseous mixtures.
You should be clean-shaven to get the best possible seal with your respirator. Facial hair can cause leakage and reduce protection.
Test for fit every time you put the respirator on and throughout your shift.
Two easy tests can show whether most reusable respirators fit right and don’t leak:
1) negative pressure test 2) positive pressure test.
Negative Pressure Test
• Put on the facepiece and adjust it to fit comfortably—snug, not overly tight.
• Block the air inlets. These are usually the filter openings on the sides of the facepiece.
• Try to breathe in.
• If there are no leaks, the facepiece should
collapse slightly and stay like that while you hold your breath for 10 seconds.
Positive Pressure Test
• Put on the facepiece and adjust it to fit comfortably—snug, not overly tight.
• Block the exhalation valve. This is usually on the bottom of the respirator.
• Try to breathe out.
• The facepiece should puff slightly away from your face and stay like that while you hold your breath for 10 seconds.
If you find a leak, adjust the facepiece or straps and repeat the test until you get a good fit.
Test periodically while you wear the respirator. It may get nudged or bumped out of position while you’re working.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Cover inlets and try to inhale.Negative Pressure Fit Test
Cover exhalation valve and try
to exhale.
List breathing hazards on site
Explain dangers
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Respirators
12
Maintenance
To provide protection, respirators must be maintained.
Dirty, missing, or damaged parts can prevent your respirator from working properly.
For instance, valves that are damaged, missing, or poorly seated can drastically reduce the protection provided by your respirator.
There’s also a danger in sharing respirators. Doing so is not hygienic.
Particulate respirator filters are identified by a letter and a number. The letters are
N – not resistant to oil R – resistant to oil P – oil-proof.
The numbers are 95, 99, and 100. These indicate efficiency: 95 (95%), 99 (99%), 100 (99.9%). Filter cartridges for chemicals such as ammonia, organic vapours, solvents or acid gases use different filter technology. Look at the cartridge before selecting a respirator.
With use, filters become harder to breathe through. You’re breathing not only through the filter but also through the contaminants that build up on the outside of the filter.
Change filters whenever the filter • is damaged
• becomes difficult to breathe through. As gas and organic vapour filters are used, their ability to remove gases and vapours decreases. They must be replaced according to a schedule set by the manufacturer.
Leave a contaminated area and change filters right away if
• you can smell or taste the contaminant through the filter
• your throat or lungs feel irritated.
Let’s learn what to look for when we inspect a respirator.
Check the inhalation valves for damage, dust and dirt, and proper seating.
Remove filters and make sure the flapper valve (usually a flexible disk) isn’t missing or damaged. Make sure the flapper valve is seated properly in the valve assembly.
To inspect the exhalation valve, remove the cover at the bottom of the respirator. Check the valve for damage, dirt, and proper seating.
Make sure that straps and buckles are free of damage and working properly.
Check the facepiece for holes, cracks, and splits. (With the crew, inspect two or three respirators in use. Make necessary adjustments and arrange repairs or replacements.)
Identify controls
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Hand
Protection
13
Construction exposes our hands to many different hazards, from cuts to chemicals, from pinching to crushing, from blisters to burns.
The best tools we have are our hands. We need to protect them on the job.
Leather gloves provide good protection against sharp edges, splinters, and heat.
Cotton or other materials don’t stand up well. You should wear them only for light-duty jobs.
Our hands also need protection against chemicals. Check labels to see whether products must be handled with gloves and what types of gloves are required.
If that information isn’t on the label, check the material safety data sheet (MSDS).
Using the right gloves for the job is important. For instance, rubber gloves are no good with solvents and degreasers. The gloves will dissolve on contact.
Identify controls
Demonstrate
Explain dangers
Talk about the specific chemicals used on your jobsite and the type of gloves recommended for each.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Guardrails
14
Guardrails are often the best and most convenient means of fall protection.
Where possible, guardrails must be installed • along the open edges of roofs and floors
• on formwork, scaffolds, and other work surfaces • openings in floors and roofs
• wherever workers are exposed to the risk of falling.
Guardrails must be installed no more than 30 cm (1 foot) from the open edge. They must be able to withstand all loads specified in the construction regulation (Ontario Regulation 213/91).
Posts supporting a wooden guardrail should be no more than 8 feet apart. Guardrails can also be wire rope and manufactured systems of metal frames and wire mesh.
Well-anchored posts are essential. You can use vertical shoring jacks, screw-clamp posts, clamp binding posts, or posts that fit into sleeves cast right in the slab.
Sometimes guardrails have to be removed to land material or make installations along floor or roof edges. The open edge should be roped off and marked with warning signs. Workers inside that area must wear fall protection and be tied off. All guardrails—especially wood guardrails—should be inspected regularly.
Guardrails are the best method of protecting workers around openings in floors and roofs, but sometimes they’re not practical. You may have to use securely fastened covers made of planks, plywood, or steel plate. Covers must be strong enough to support any weight to be reasonably expected.
There’s always the danger that someone will pick up the plywood to use somewhere else. Workers have even removed covers from openings and then fallen through.
That’s why covers should be clearly marked in bright paint with warning signs. DO NOT REMOVE. DANGER! HOLE IN FLOOR. Falls are the number one cause of serious injuries
and death from injuries in construction.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
List fall hazards on site
Demonstrate
Review types of guardrails used on site. Ask your crew where else guardrails should be installed.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Fall Protection
15
Basic Types
Falls are the number-one cause of accidental deaths in construction. And you don’t have to fall far to be killed or injured.
On many sites, guardrails are the most common and convenient means of fall protection.
For more information, refer to the Safety Talk “Guardrails.”
Where guardrails cannot be installed or are impractical, the two basic types of fall protection are travel restraint and fall arrest. Both involve a full body harness.
Travel-Restraint System
A travel-restraint system keeps you from getting too close to an unprotected edge.
Lifeline and lanyard are adjusted to let you travel only so far. When you get to the open edge of a floor or roof, the system holds you back.
A full body harness should be used with travel-restraint systems. You can attach the harness directly to a rope grab on the lifeline or by a lanyard. The lifeline must be securely anchored.
Fall-Arrest System
Where other fall protection is not in place, you must use a fall-arrest system if you are in danger of falling
Demonstrate
Explain dangers
Identify controls
• more than 3 metres • into operating machinery • into water or another liquid
• into or onto a hazardous substance or object. A fall-arrest system consists of a full body harness, a lanyard, and a shock absorber.
You can connect the lanyard directly to adequate support OR
• to a rope grab mounted on an adequately anchored lifeline.
A full body harness must also be worn and tied off when you are
• on a rolling scaffold that is being moved • getting on, working from, or getting off a
suspended platform, suspended scaffold, or bosun’s chair.
Lifelines must be adequately anchored. For fall arrest, that means able to support the weight of a small car (about 3,600 pounds). Fall-arrest loads can be high.
Show how to put on, adjust, and wear a full body harness.
List fall hazards on site
Locking Snap Hooks Rope Grab To adequate anchor point Web Lanyard Lifeline Full Body Harness Shock Absorber
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Fall Protection
16
Approvals and Inspection
Demonstrate as you talk
Explain dangers
When you’re using a travel-restraint or fall-arrest system, your life depends on equipment.
If your equipment is not certified by a recognized authority, or is not properly inspected and
maintained, you risk injury and death.
Your fall protection equipment must keep you in construction and out of the hospital. That’s why approvals and inspection are important.
Safety harnesses must be approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Look for the CSA logo.
Also look for the CSA logo on lanyards, shock absorbers, and rope grabs. The label means the equipment has been manufactured to meet high standards.
Any equipment involved in a fall arrest must be discarded or removed from service until the manufacturer certifies that all components are safe for reuse.
Inspect the components of a fall-arrest system used on your site.
Harness
Make sure that
• hardware and straps are intact and undamaged • moving parts move freely through their full
range of motion
• webbing is free of burns, cuts, loose or broken stitching, frayed material, and signs of heat or chemical damage.
Lanyard
Make sure the lanyard fastens securely to the D-ring on the harness.
• Inspect the lanyard for fraying, kinking, and loose or broken stitching.
• Check lanyard hardware for rust, cracks, and damage.
• Check shock-absorbing lanyards regularly. Look for torn stitching on tearaway types. Check other types for damage such as cracks and loose parts.
Lifeline
Inspect fibre rope lifelines for fraying, burns, kinking, cuts, and signs of wear and tear. Check retractable block lifelines for smooth operation. Pull out line and jerk it suddenly. Braking action should be immediate and tight.
List fall hazards on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Fall Protection
17
With rope grabs, there are three basic hazards: • attaching them the wrong way
• grabbing hold of them during a fall
• using them with the wrong size or type of rope A rope grab attached upside down to a lifeline can’t work properly. Instead of locking on the line, it will simply slide down.
Don’t grab the device if you fall. This can prevent some grabs from working properly. Instead of stopping you’ll slide to injury or death below.
Rope grabs are technically known as fall arresters and must meet CSA requirements.
• When attaching a rope grab to a lifeline, always make sure the arrow on the grab points along the line to the anchor point.
• After putting the rope grab on the lifeline, give it a firm tug in the direction of a fall to make sure it engages.
• Ensure that lifeline and rope grab match. Rope grabs are designed to work with certain types and diameters of lifelines.
Explain dangers
Demonstrate as you talk
• Remember to tie a knot in your lifeline at the farthest point where you need to travel. The knot ensures that the rope grab will not run off the free end of your line.
• Some grabs have a “parking feature” that locks at a point on the lifeline that won’t let you reach a fall hazard.
• On a vertical lifeline, always position the rope grab as high as possible above your D-ring to minimize free fall.
Also make sure you have clearance below. Fall arresters may slide down the lifeline as much as one metre before arresting your fall.
• Inspect rope grabs before use. • Check for distortion
• rust
• moving parts that don’t move easily • sharp edges.
A rope grab that arrests a fall should be taken out of service and inspected and recertified for use.
Two fall arresters are typically used in construction: Class AD and Class ADP.
• Class AD attaches to the D-ring on the back of your harness. So does Class ADP. But ADP also includes a panic feature. The “P” is for “panic.” • The panic feature keeps the arrester locked on
the lifeline, even if you grab hold of it.
• Class AD doesn’t have this panic feature. But the CSA standard requires that AD arresters come with integral connectors (that attach to the harness) between 30 and 60 centimetres long (one and two feet). This makes it very difficult for a falling worker to reach around and grab the arrester.
List fall hazards on site
Class AD versus Class ADP
Rope grabs
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Step
Ladders
18
The stepladder is one of the most familiar things on a construction site. Still, workers get hurt using them.
Falls are the biggest risk. Even though you’re not very high off the ground, workers have died from falling a short distance and landing the wrong way. Even sprains or strains could mean pain and days off work.
Here’s how to use a stepladder right.
• Never straddle the space between a step ladder and another point.
• When standing on the ladder, avoid leaning forward, backward, or to either side.
• Always open the ladder fully before using it. Don’t use an unopened step ladder as a straight or extension ladder. The feet are not designed for this use.
• Never stand on the top step, the top, or the pail shelf of a step ladder.
• When climbing up or down a step ladder, always face the ladder and maintain 3-point contact.
Locked Step Ladder
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
List stepladder locations on site
[Use a step ladder to demonstrate the following points in your talk.]
• Check the ladder for defects or damage - at the start of your shift
- after it has been used somewhere else by other workers
- after it has been left in one place for a long time.
• Keep the area at the base of the ladder clear. • Make sure the spreader arms lock securely in the
open position.
• Stand no higher than the second step from the top.
Inspect step ladders in use on site. Determine whether other equipment would provide safer, more efficient access.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Extension
Ladders
19
• Choose the right ladder for the job. It must be long enough to
- be set up at a safe angle (see below)
- extend 90 centimetres (3 feet) beyond the top landing.
• A two-section extension ladder should be no longer than 15 metres (50 feet); a three-section ladder no longer than 20 metres (66 feet). • Check the ladder for damage or defects
- before you set it up
- after it has been used somewhere else by other workers
- after it has been left somewhere for a long time.
• Set the ladder on a firm level base. If the base is soft, loose, or wet material, clear it away or stand the ladder on a mud sill.
• Never erect extension ladders on boxes, carts, tables, or other unstable objects. Never stand them up against flexible or movable surfaces.
• Set the ladder up at a safe angle – one foot out for every three or four feet up, depending on length.
• When the ladder is set up, there should be a clear space of at least 15 centimetres or 6 inches behind each rung.
• When the ladder is fully extended, sections must overlap at least 90 centimetres (3 feet).
• Tie-off or otherwise secure the top and bottom of the ladder. Keep areas at top and bottom clear of debris, scrap, material, and other obstructions. • Clean mud, snow, and other slippery substances
off your boots before climbing.
• When climbing up or down, always face the ladder and maintain 3-point contact.
• Don’t carry tools, equipment, or material in your hands while climbing. Use a hoist line or gin wheel for lifting and lowering.
• Be very careful when erecting extension ladders near live overhead powerlines. Never use metal or metal-reinforced ladders near electrical wires or equipment.
• Wherever possible, use extension ladders only for access—not as work platforms. • When you must
work from a ladder more than 3 metres or 10 feet up, wear a safety harness and tie off to a well-anchored lifeline or other support—not to the ladder.
• Stand no higher than the fourth rung from the top.
Extension ladders can be dangerous tools. Workers have been killed and injured from falls and powerline contact. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Explain dangers
Demonstrate as you talk
List ladder locations on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
3-point
contact
20
Ladders
Climbing a ladder is not as easy as it sounds. Many workers have been injured getting on or off a ladder. Workers have died from falls after losing their balance.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
To use ladders safely, always maintain three points of contact. That means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand on the ladder at all times.
• Put both hands firmly on the rungs before stepping onto a ladder.
• Break 3-point contact only when you reach the ground or a stable platform.
• Always face the ladder when you’re climbing up and down.
• Keep your body between the side rails. Don’t lean out on either side.
• Make sure that ladders extend at least 900 millimetres (90 centimetres or 3 feet) above the top landing.
• There must be a clear space of at least 150 millimetres (6 inches) behind each rung.
List ladder locations on site
• Moving quickly often results in only 2-pointcontact. You often have to make a conscious effort to maintain 3-point contact.• Don’t carry tools, equipment, or material in your hands while climbing. Use a hoist line or gin wheel for lifting and lowering.
• Clean mud, snow, and other slippery substances off your boots before climbing.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
3-point
contact
21
Getting on and off equipment is not as easy as it sounds. More than one-quarter of all injuries to equipment operators and truck drivers occur during mounting and dismounting.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
To climb on and off construction equipment safely, always maintain three points of contact. That means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand on the equipment at all times.
• Break 3-point contact only when you reach the ground, the cab, or a stable platform.
• Mount and dismount facing the equipment. • Climb on and off only when the equipment is
stationary.
• Use the parts designed by the manufacturer for mounting and dismounting—steps,
runningboards, traction strips, footholds, handgrips, etc.
• Keep these parts clear of mud, snow, grease, and other hazards that can cause slips, trips, or falls.
• Don’t use wheel hubs, machine tracks, or door
handles for mounting and dismounting. Demonstrate 3-point contact by mounting and dismounting from a truck, bulldozer, or other piece of heavy equipment on site. Ask your crew to try out 3-point contact as well.
List vehicles & equipment used on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Scaffolds
22
If scaffold planks and decks fail, you could be seriously injured or killed from a fall. You could also be thrown off balance and injure yourself with your tools or equipment.
Laminated veneer lumber planks
• Separation of laminated layers—usually due to repeated changes in moisture levels as layers soak up rain and dry in sun.
• Cuts of any kind.
• Pressure cracks in the top or bottom layer. • Warping from wear and weather.
• The condition of cleats.
Aluminum/plywood deck panels
• Cuts in aluminum frames.
• Deformed, cracked, or broken fastening hooks and hardware.
• Cracked or broken plywood. • Bent, cracked, or broken rungs.
• Sliding or other locking devices in good condition.
As a general rule, you should plank or deck the working levels of a scaffold across their full width for maximum support and stability.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
List scaffolds needing inspection on site
Scaffold planks and deck material must be inspected regularly. Here’s what to check for.
Wood planks
• The right length. Planks must overhang the frame no less than 6 and no more than 12 inches (150 - 300 mm).
• Cracks—these can often be detected at the end of the plank. Discard planks with long and deep cracks.
• Cuts on plank edges from saws, tools, sharp objects. Discard planks with many or deep cuts. • Worm holes, splits, knots knocked out along
edges, lots of nail holes—discard planks when they’re serious.
• Light weight—this can indicate dry rot that can’t be seen.
• Condition of cleats—damaged cleats should be removed and replaced.
Check Split Sap Line Spike Knot Wane Worm Hole
PLANK DEFECTS
Planks and decks
Demonstrate
Demonstrate methods of inspecting planks and panels. Ask crew to inspect sample materials on site.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Scaffolds
23
Structural components
Structural components of all frame scaffolds must be inspected regularly. Inspection should include frames, feet, connecting pins, braces, and guardrails.
Frames
• Uprights and cross-members should not be cracked, rusty, bent or otherwise deformed. • All connecting components should fit together
square and true.
Feet
• Adjustable base plates should work properly. • Plates should be securely attached to legs to resist
uplift as well as compression.
• If mudsills are used, base plates must be nailed to them.
Connecting pins
• Frames must be joined together vertically by connecting pins compatible with the frames. • Connecting pins must be locked in place to
prevent them from loosening and coming out.
• Pins must be free of bends and distortion. If they don’t fit, get replacements that do.
Braces
• Cross and horizontal braces should not be cracked, rusty, bent, or otherwise deformed. • Braces should be compatible with frames and
free of distortion.
• Horizontal braces must be installed every third frame vertically and in each bay laterally. • Scaffolds higher than three frames must be tied
into the structure.
Guardrails
• The work platform must have guardrails. • Guardrails must be compatible with frames.
Guardrails can be made of tube-and-clamp components if they’re assembled properly. Scaffold components that are damaged, defective,
or wrongly installed can lead to tip-over or collapse.
Explain dangers
Demonstrate as you talk
List scaffold locations on site
Figure 4.1
STANDARD FRAME SCAFFOLD
Ladder rungs built into frame not more than 12” centre to centre
Aluminum/plywood combination platform
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Suspended
access
24
Suspension systems on swingstages, work cages, and bosun’s chairs can fail. If you are not using a fall arrest system, you can fall, suffering injury or death.
Fall-Arrest Inspection
[This part of the talk should include hands-on inspection of equipment.]
Fall-arrest equipment is your last line of defence. Make sure it works.
Your harness must have a label identifying the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard to which it complies.
Check the harness for
• cuts, burns, and signs of chemical damage • loose or broken stitching
• frayed web material
• D-ring and keeper pads showing signs of distortion, damage, or undue wear
• grommets and buckles showing damage, distortion, and sharp edges
The lanyard must be securely attached to the harness D-ring by a locking snaphook or other approved means.
Your lanyard and shock-absorber must be free of fraying, kinking, and loose or broken threads. The hardware should not be deformed, rusty, cracked, or unduly worn. All moving parts must move freely and easily through their full range of movement. Make sure your rope grab is working, matches the type of lifeline you are using, and has no damaged parts or sharp edges that could cut the lifeline. Your lanyard must be attached to the rope grab with a locking snaphook to keep it from accidentally coming out.
Your lifeline should be free of damage, wear, and decay. It must be protected from rubbing and scraping where it passes over corners or edges.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
The basic rule is simple: there must be two independent means of support for workers using suspended access equipment.
Two Independent Means of Support
One independent means of support for each worker is the suspension system holding up the stage, cage, or chair.
The second independent means of support is the fall-arrest system. This consists of
• full body safety harness • lanyard
• rope grab • lifeline
• lifeline anchor.
If the suspension system fails, the worker will be saved by the fall-arrest system.
In some cases, the second
independent means of support can be another complete suspension system. On a swingstage, for instance, there would be four outrigger beams instead of two, four suspension lines instead of two, and so on. If one suspension system fails, the other will take over. This arrangement is used on a tiered stage.
But even with two complete suspension systems you must still wear a full body harness and lanyard. In this case you would tie off to a stirrup on the stage or to a line secured to both stirrups.
Fall protection
Locking Snap Hooks Rope Grab To adequate anchor point Web Lanyard Lifeline Full Body Harness Shock AbsorberIHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Suspended
access
25
Tiebacks
Tiebacks are used to secure the outriggers and counterweights of suspended access equipment. The tieback holds the major components of the suspension system together. It keeps them from being loosened or dislodged and secures them back to an adequate anchor point.
Let’s follow a wire rope tieback from start to finish. The tieback runs from the thimble of the suspension line back along the outrigger beam with at least one half-hitch on each section.
Then it loops around
the counterweight handles and extends back to adequate anchorage.
Now let’s see how each part is connected.
1. We secure the wire rope tieback to the thimble of the suspension line with cable clips.
2. We make a half-hitch through the handle on each section of the outrigger beam. Even if the beam doesn’t have handles, we still use the half-hitches.
3. We run the tieback through and then back around the counterweight handles.
4. We attach the tieback to the anchor, again with cable clips. We make sure the tieback is taut.
What’s an adequate anchor?
• engineered tieback systems such as eye bolts and rings as identified on an approved roof plan • the base of large HVAC units
• columns on intermediate building floors or stub columns on roofs
• large pipe anchorage systems (12-inch diameter or bigger)
• roof structures such as mechanical rooms • parapet clamps attached to reinforced concrete
parapet walls on the other side of the building • If unsure, workers and supervisors must ask
for assistance in finding an adequate anchor.
Suspended access equipment can fail if you don’t set up all the components properly, including tiebacks. Improper set-up can lead to injury or death from a fall.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Point out the tiebacks and anchorages used on site.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Rigging
hardware
26
Without the right number of counterweights, suspended access equipment can fail, leading to injury or death.
This means that the effect of the counterweights holding the equipment up must be at least 4 times greater than the load pulling the equipment down. Another way of saying this is that...
• the distance of the outrigger beam from the fulcrum to the centre of the counterweights (Y)... • multiplied by the load of the counterweights... • must be at least 4 times greater...
• than the distance of the outrigger beam from the fulcrum to the suspension line (X)...
• multiplied by the capacity of the climber. Let’s look at an example.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
Here’s how to calculate the number of counterweights you need.
Let’s start with the design factor. For beams and weights the design factor must be 4 to 1.
Go over this example with your crew.
The beam is 18 feet long. The counterweights will require at least 2 feet of space at the end of the beam. There is a 1-foot overhang and a supported load of 1000 lb.
X = 1 ft. Climber load = 1000 lb. Therefore 1ft. x 1000 lb. = 1000 ft. lb. pulling down. The resisting force, including the design factor of 4 that
must be provided by the counterweights = 4 x 1000 ft. lb. = 4000 ft. lb. Y = 18 ft. – 1 ft. (overhang) – 1 ft. (centre of weights) = 16 ft.
The load required by the counterweights = 4000 ft. lb. = 250 lb. 16 ft.
Assuming counterweights are 55 lb. each, number of weights required = 250 lb. = 5 counterweights 55lb.
If labels on an outrigger beam are missing or not readable, do not use the beam.
Remember—only use counterweights that have been specifically manufactured for the particular outrigger beam you are using.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Rigging
hardware
27
Rigging hardware must have enough capacity for the job. Only load-rated hardware of forged alloy steel should be used for hoisting. Load-rated hardware is stamped with its working load limit or WLL.
Adequate capacity is the first thing to look for in rigging hardware. For hoisting, the design factor must be 5 to 1.
Once the right hardware has been chosen for a job, it has to be inspected regularly as long as it’s in service.
There are warning signs that hardware has been weakened in use and should be replaced.
Cracks Inspect closely—some cracks are very fine.
Missing parts Make sure that parts such as catches on hooks, nuts on cable clips, and cotter pins in shackle pins are still in place.
Stretching Check hooks, shackles, and chain links for signs of opening up, elongation, and distortion.
Stripped threads Inspect turnbuckles, shackles,
and cable clips.
Rigging is only as strong as its weakest link. Workers’ lives depend on the strength of that link. It doesn’t matter what safe working load is stamped on a hook if the hook is cracked and twisted or opening up at the throat. It can’t deliver its full rated capacity.
Inspection is vital in rigging and hoisting.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
List rigging on site
Demonstrate
Using samples of hardware on site, review the following points.
Cable Clips
• Check for wear on saddle.
• Check that original parts are in place and in good condition.
• Check for cracks.
• Check for proper size of the wire rope.
Shackles
• Check for wear and cracks on saddle and pin. • Check that pin is straight and properly seated. • Check that legs of shackle are not opening up.
Hooks
• Check for wear, twisting, and cracks. • Make sure that hook is not opening up.
Turnbuckles
• Check for cracks and bends.
• Check rods for straightness and damage to threads.
With your crew, inspect rigging hardware in use or stored on site. Arrange for repairs or
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Wire rope
28
Damage from wear and tear can reduce rope strength and capacity, endangering workers who depend on the rope.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
List places wire rope is used on site
Wire rope in continuous service should be inspected during operation and at least once a week.
There are warning signs to look for during inspection. Most of these warning signs indicate that the rope should be replaced.
Broken wires
Replace rope if there are
• 6 or more broken wires in one lay
• 3 or more broken wires in one strand in one lay • 3 or more broken wires in one lay in standing
ropes.
Worn/abraded wires
Replace rope if outer wires • become flat from friction • become shiny from wear AND • wear exceeds 1/3 of diameter.
Review wire rope in use on site. Ask your crew to inspect samples and arrange for repair or replacement as required.
Outside of wire rope. It appears to be in good condition. See below.
Core of same wire rope. You can see many broken wires and notches. This rope should have been replaced long ago.
Inspection
Reduced diameter
Replace rope if wear on individual wires exceeds 1/3 of their diameter.
Stretch
Replace 6-strand rope if stretch reduces diameter by more than 1/16.
Corrosion
Difficult to detect because it’s inside the rope. Look for rust, discolouration, and pitting outside.
Cuts/burns
Replace rope if any wires or strands are cut or burned. Damaged ends can be removed and seized. Otherwise rope must be replaced.
Birdcaging
Look for strands opening up in cage-like clusters. Rope must be replaced.
Core protrusion
Replace rope when inner core starts poking through strands.
Kinks
Kinks seriously reduce wire rope strength. Sections with kinks should be cut off. Otherwise rope must be discarded.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Wire rope
29
Cable clips
Here’s how to install cable clips correctly.
[Demonstrate these points with rope and clips as you talk.]
• Most cable clips have two sections. There’s a saddle part and a U-shaped part.
• You need the right sized clip for the wire rope diameter.
• You need to know the number of clips required, the amount of rope to turn back from the thimble, and the torque needed to tighten the nuts. There are tables that spell out all of this information. (See sample below)
• At least three clips should be used when making any prepared loop or thimble-eye termination for wire rope, especially for hoisting.
• All three clips must be installed with the saddle part on the live end of the rope. This lets the live end rest in the saddle so it’s not crushed by the U part of the clip.
Here’s a way to remember this: “Never saddle a
dead horse.”
• The U goes on the dead end of the rope where crushing will not affect the breaking strength of the hoist line.
There’s only one right way to install cable clips when you want to get the maximum efficiency— up to 85%—out of a prepared loop or thimble-eye termination. Otherwise the capacity of the
termination can be severely reduced, risking the lives of workers and others nearby.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
Demonstrate proper installation step-by-step with your crew by following the diagram below.
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Hoisting
signals
30
In hoisting operations, miscommunication between signaller and operator can lead to disaster for people or property.
There is a signal for each action of the crane from BOOM UP to BOOM DOWN, from TRAVEL FORWARD to STOP.
By using the correct hand signals you can get a crane to do almost anything you want. The operator only needs to clearly see and understand your signals.
In our next talk, we’ll run through all the hand signals for hoisting. But first we have to know the ground rules for signalling.
• Only one person should signal the operator. But anyone can give the STOP signal and it must be obeyed immediately. [Demonstrate
signal.]
• Signals should be clear and, wherever possible, barehanded.
• The load should be directed so that it never passes over anyone.
• Operators should not make a move until they receive and understand your signal. If contact between you and the operator is broken for any reason, the operation must stop.
• Some situations call for two signallers. For instance, during a concrete pour, one signaller may be needed to direct the lift while the other directs the drop.
• Where a difficult lift demands voice
communication, use two-way radios instead of hand signals.
Hand signals have their limitations. For example, they should never be used when distance, visibility, or noise prevents accurate communication with the operator.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
List hoisting jobs on site
If you’re going to rig a load, you also need to know the signals for lifting, moving, and landing it. The operation may be a simple LIFT and LOWER. Or it may require more complicated signals.
On construction sites, signalling is required in the following situations.
1) When the operator cannot see the load. 2) When the operator cannot see the load
landing area.
3) When the operator cannot see the path of travel of either the load or the crane. 4) When the operator is too far from the load
to judge distance accurately.
5) When the crane or other hoisting device is working close to live powerlines or
equipment.
In many cases, hand signals are the most efficient form of communication between riggers and crane operators. Over the years, a system of standard hand signals has evolved that is now international.
Basic rules
Demonstrate
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Hoisting
signals
31
Demonstration
Demonstrate
Demonstrate the hoisting signals below for your crew. Ask them to repeat after you and practice them so that they become natural.
Then, ask them to show you the signals for “Load Up,” “Turn Right,” and “Use Main Line.”
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Electrical Safety
32
Using electricity on site can be hazardous, in three areas especially:
- tools - cords
- panels/generators.
The basic rule is simple: Consider all electrical wires and equipment live until they are tested and proven otherwise.
Tools
• Use only tools that are polarized or double-insulated.
• Make sure the casings of double-insulated tools are not cracked or broken.
• Always use a Type A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with portable electric tools operated outdoors or in damp or wet locations. GFCIs detect current leaking to ground from a tool or cord and shut off power before damage or injury can occur.
• Any shock or tingle, no matter how small, means that the tool or equipment needs to be checked and repaired.
Demonstrate
Explain dangers
Identify controls
• Take defective tools out of service.
• Before drilling, nailing, cutting, or sawing into walls, ceilings, and floors, check for electrical wires or equipment.
Cords
• Make sure that tool cords, extension cords, and plugs are in good condition.
• Use only 3-pronged extension cords.
• Make sure that extension cords are the right gauge for the job to prevent overheating, voltage drops, and tool burnout. 12 gauge is ideal. • Use cords fitted with dead-front plugs. These
present less risk of shock and shortcircuit than open-front plugs.
• Do not use cords that are defective or have been improperly repaired.
• Protect cords from traffic.
Panels
• Temporary panel boards must be securely mounted in a lockable enclosure protected from weather and water. The boards must be
accessible to workers and kept clear of obstructions.
• Receptacles must be GFCI-protected. • Use only generators with neutral bonded to
frame.
With your crew,
• inspect sample tools and cords used on the job • point out labels indicating double insulation • show how a circuit-tester and GFCI can be used
to test cords, tools, and outlets.
List electrical hazards on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Lockout &
Tagging
33
Explain dangers
Identify controls
Demonstrate
List hazardous energy sources on site
Serious and fatal accidents have occurred when people assumed that electricity or machinery was turned off but it wasn’t. Electric shock, sudden movement of sharp machine parts, release of pressure, falling counterweights—these are just some hazards that can result when energy is unexpectedly released.
• Lockout and tagging ensures that hazardous energy sources are under the control of the workers needing protection.
• Lockout often involves workers using a padlock to keep a switch in the “off ” position, or to isolate the energy of moving parts.
• Tagging is how you tell others that the device is locked out, who locked it out, and why.
There are four basic actions in any lockout. 1) Identify all energy sources connected with the
work.
2) De-energize, disable, redirect, or stop all energy from doing what it normally does.
3) Apply restraint devices (e.g., lock, scissors, chain, or block) to keep the system from starting up while you work on it.
4) Confirm that you’ve reached a zero energy state. • Forms of energy that you must lock out include
electrical, mechanical, potential (stored energy, such as in suspended loads), hydraulic,
pneumatic, thermal, and chemical.
• It’s not always easy to identify every source of energy. Machines or systems usually contain several forms of energy. A press may be hydraulically powered, for instance, but
electrically controlled. Locking out the hydraulic power is not enough. Locking out the electricity is not enough. Gravity can still cause a raised ram to drop. There may also be potential energy stored in pistons or springs.
• To identify energy sources, you may need to trace wiring, lines, and piping in and out of the equipment. Specifications, drawings, operating manuals, and similar information will also help. • A lock is your personal lock that can only be
opened with your key.
• Once you apply the lock or other restraint device, you have to tag it. The tag must indicate 1) who you are, 2) who you work for, 3) why the machine or system is locked out, and 4) the date when the lockout was applied.
• Once each energy source has been locked out and tagged, you must test the equipment to verify a zero energy state.
• Many plants or industrial establishments will have specific procedures for lockout and tagging.
Show sample lockout devices and tags. Explain your project’s lockout procedures. Identify
situations on site where lockout and tagging would be necessary. Review recent applications of lockout and tagging.
Know the law
Section 190 of the Construction Regulation (O. Reg. 213/91) lists the requirements for lockout and tagging.
List powerline hazards on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Powerline
Contact
34
KMajor cause of fatal accidents in construction. KTypical equipment involved—backhoe, dump
truck, boom truck, crane, excavator. KBeware of contact when moving extension
ladders, rolling scaffolds, long lengths of pipe and siding.
KBeware of the powerline moving (e.g. in the wind).
• The constructor must develop written
procedures ahead of time if the equipment or its load can encroach on the the minimum
permitted distance to a powerline. The
minimum permitted distances are listed in the Construction Regulation, and in the table in the next column.
• Don’t store material and equipment below overhead powerlines.
• To determine powerline voltage, check markings on pole or call the utility.
• Use a signaller to direct equipment operators and truck drivers.
• The signaller must warn drivers and operators when any part of their equipment or load approaches the minimum distances set by law.
Voltage rating Minimum distance
750 to 150,000 volts 3 metres (10 feet) 150,001 to 250,000 volts 4.5 metres (15 feet) More than 250,000 volts 6 metres (20 feet)
• When erecting or moving a ladder or scaffold, don’t let it lean or drift toward overhead
powerlines. Always maintain minimum allowable clearances.
With crew, review procedures in case of contact
• If possible, break contact by driving the equipment clear of the powerline. Otherwise do not leave the equipment until the utility shuts down the power or fire forces you to jump clear.
• Keep everyone away from equipment in contact with powerline.
• Beware of time relays. Even after breakers are tripped by line damage, relays may be
triggered to restore power.
• Never touch equipment and ground at the same time.
• Get someone to call the local utility to shut off power.
Explain dangers
Identify controls
List temporary lighting locations on site
IHSA’S SAFETY TALKS
Temporary
Lighting
35
Demonstrate
Frequent relocation of circuits can loosen connections, break insulation, and create other shock or electrocution hazards.
Steel door frames can become electrified when doors close on wires.
Ladders, pipe, scaffold frames, and other objects can bump stringers, leading to electrical contact and shock.
Dead, missing, or low-watt bulbs, inadequate power, and blown fuses can leave stairwells, basements, and other areas poorly lit or with no lighting at all, increasing the risk of injury.
Lighting levels should be at least 55 lux (5 foot candles). That means 150-watt bulbs
• suspended 2.4 metres or 8 feet high and • 7.5 metres or 25 feet apart
OR
• suspended 3 metres or 10 feet high and • 6 metres or 20 feet apart.
Bulbs lower than 100 watts are not recommended.
Bulbs should be installed to light as large an area as possible.
Bulbs must be protected by cages against accidental damage.
Keep branch lighting circuits that feed temporary lighting entirely separate from power circuits, except for a common supply.
Protect branch lighting circuits by a breaker or fuse with a 15-amp rating. An electrician should hard-wire the circuits directly into a distribution panel. Don’t use temporary lighting circuits as extension cords. If a fuse blows, finding your way to the panel in the dark can be dangerous.
Make sure that wires do not contact steel doors or steel door frames. Ensure that wires cannot be pinched or cut by doors.
With your crew, review the following checklist. J Are work areas well lit?
J Are burned-out bulbs promptly replaced? J Are they replaced with new bulbs or bulbs taken
from another location?
J Are stringers promptly relocated when bulbs are blocked by the installation of new ceilings, ducts, piping, and other features?
J Are lamp holders hard-usage type?
J Are electrical feed lines for sockets supported every 1.4 metres (4 feet, 6 inches)?
